Genetic factors, such as the vitamin D receptor, the major histocompatibility complex region, chromosome 20, human toll-like receptors, the natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1, the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing 2, phosphate-regulating gene with homologies to endopeptidase on the X chromosome and the tyrosine kinase growth factor receptor-ErbB-2, contribute to both vitamin D status and leprosy.
Polymorphisms at the ERBB2 gene were previously investigated as genetic risk factors for leprosy in two Brazilian populations but with inconsistent results.
These results may have implications for the design of ErbB2 RTK-based therapies for both leprosy nerve damage and other demyelinating neurodegenerative diseases.